12 fishermen fined for catching hilsa in Galachipa river

A mobile court has fined 12 fishermen as they were caught while catching hilsa in Burangourango River in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district through violating the government's ban on the act during the peak breeding period from October 15 to 24.
Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Magistrate Laskar Tajul Islam fined the fishermen Tk 1000 each on Monday afternoon.
Earlier on the day, a team from upazila fisheries office and police arrested them from Char Najir area when they were fishing on the Burangourango River, said police and upazila fisheries office sources.
The fined fishermen are Selim Majhi, 30, Jamal Majhai, 32, Nurul Islam, 35, Rahijul Islam, 28, Shahabuddin, 25, Rahmat Majhi, 30, Jahirul Sikder, 26, Zakir Hossain, 22, Polash, 20, Masud, 33, Jhantu Mia, 30, and Mohiuddin, 35. They are from different villages under Chafashion upazila in Bhola district.
"The government imposed a ban on catching hilsa from October 15 to 24 to facilitate breeding of the popular fish in a disturb-free environment. A plenty of hilsa is coming to different rivers in the coastal areas to lay eggs in the reproduction season," said Qamrul Islam, Galachipa upazila fisheries officer.
Taking the opportunity, a group of fishermen are trying to get large catches but it would de harmful for the fish, he added.
The Daily Star on October 17 ran report titled 'Hilsa fishing continues defying ban', narrating the harmful effect of a group of fishermen's random catching of hilsa in different rivers including the Burangourango.